Archbishop backs ACL stance on gay 'lifestyle'

By
Dan Harrison

The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen has backed controversial comments by Australian Christian Lobby head Jim Wallace which suggested a homosexual “lifestyle” is more hazardous to health than smoking.

Archbishop backs ACL stance on gay 'lifestyle'

"As far as I can see the lifespan of practicing gays is significantly shorter than the ordinary so-called heterosexual man" ... Archbishop Peter Jensen.

The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen has backed controversial comments by Australian Christian Lobby head Jim Wallace which suggested a homosexual “lifestyle” is more hazardous to health than smoking.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard pulled out of speaking at the Christian Lobby’s national conference in response to Mr Wallace’s comments last week, which she described as “offensive” and “heartless.”

Dr Jensen said while he did not agree with everything ACL leaders said, Mr Wallace had “given us an opportunity to talk about something significant, namely the question of health risk.’’

“It’s very hard to get to the facts here because we don’t want to talk about it and in this country censorship is alive and well.’’

“As far as I can see… the lifespan of practicing gays is significantly shorter than the ordinary so-called heterosexual man. That seems to be the case. What we need to do is to look at why this may be the case and we need to do it in a compassionate and objective way.”

“Some people say it’s because of the things I say… and that creates for example a spate of suicides. That may be true, but how can we get at the facts if we’re never willing to talk about it.”